Tag Archives: success

HUB Program Reconnects Alumna to Central Piedmont

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Three people standing in front of GRITS red food truck🍴 Central Piedmont recently hosted its first “Chat, Sip, and Chew” event, bringing Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB) specializing in culinary and food services to campus to meet with faculty and staff.

Event Highlights:

  • 24 vendors showcased their businesses and potential partnerships.
  • Jorieka Downey, a 2014 Central Piedmont alumna, was one of the vendors. She shared her inspiring journey of overcoming obstacles to build her successful food truck and catering business, G.R.I.T.S. CLT.

Downey’s Journey:

  • Education: Enrolled in Central Piedmont’s culinary program while juggling two jobs and raising three children.
  • Challenges: Worked third shift, attended classes, and balanced family life.
  • Career Start: Gained experience at Compass Group and formed a crucial business partnership.
  • Business Growth: Started as a caterer, gained popularity at events like the 2019 NBA All-Star Game and the CIAA Basketball Tournament.
  • Viral Success: Went viral with a stuffed turkey leg, garnering over 30,000 views on social media.
  • Celebrity Catering: Catered for concerts featuring Busta Rhymes, 112, Marsha Ambrosius, and more.

Overcoming COVID Challenges:

  • Despite setbacks, Downey used her savings, loans, and grants to purchase her food truck.
  • Awards: Won “Charlotte’s Best Black-owned Food Truck” competition in 2022, judged by notable figures like Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles and Congresswoman Alma Adams.

Resilience and Advice:

  • Setback: Faced a fire that damaged her food truck but continues to persevere.
  • Encouragement: “Stay in it,” Downey advised Central Piedmont students. “If it’s your goal or passion, you have to give it your all. Put your best foot in and never give up.” 🌟

🎓 Bri Duncan: A Story of Resilience and Triumph 🎓

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Headshot of Bri Duncan in her graduation cap with stethoscope around her neck

Bri Duncan’s journey at Central Piedmont is an extraordinary example of resilience, dedication, and the power of support. Hailing from Wirtz, Virginia, Bri faced the unique challenges of being a single mother and returning to school as an adult. Despite these hurdles, she achieved remarkable academic success, earning dual degrees in nursing and fine arts.

Key Achievements:

  • Academic Excellence: Bri’s stellar performance earned her a place in the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.
  • Scholarships: Her hard work was further recognized through scholarships like the Cato Future Nurse Scholar award, helping her graduate debt-free.

Driven by personal challenges, including her son’s serious health issues, Bri was inspired to pursue a career in critical care nursing. She has accepted a position at Atrium Health’s Carolina Medical Center in the Medical ICU, ready to provide empathetic care in critical moments.

Overcoming Personal Challenges:

  • Supportive College Environment: During her time at Central Piedmont, Bri faced significant personal obstacles, including her son’s recovery from a stroke and their home being flooded. The college stepped in with crucial support, offering a semester of compassionate withdrawal and allowing her to manage her family’s crises without compromising her educational aspirations.

As a commencement speaker, Bri shared her inspiring narrative with her peers, highlighting the importance of persistence, community support, and utilizing every resource available. Her message is clear and profound: Embrace challenges as opportunities to learn and grow, and never waver in the pursuit of your dreams.

Get back into the groove for spring classes

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After a long time off from school, it can be difficult to get back into the swing of things!4 tips: Getting back into the groove after winter break over photo from Elizabeth Ave at Central Campus with the Lynx tracks in the road

Tutoring is free and can meet on your schedule, and student support services are available to help with many kinds of resources for every kind of student!
 Here are four tips for our Central Piedmont fam that may help you get back into your academic groove. (Watch our Instagram reel with these tips.)
1. Eat a good breakfast- Give yourself some time in the morning to eat a good balanced meal. We know it is hard getting out of bed some days, but eating a balanced breakfast may help give you energy to face the day.
2. Get to class early and get organized- Set the tone for your semester to show yourself and your instructor that you are ready to succeed in their class. Organization is the key to a clear mind! Read the syllabus and prepare your calendar for what’s to come.
3. Create a study plan- This plan will help with your scheduling and organization. Look at your syllabus and assignment list and mark your calendars for when you want to do homework or study through the week.

4. Schedule in some fun- Do not get overwhelmed with the back to school blues. schedule some social time in between study time and tests. This gives you things to look forward to, in between times you’re focusing on school.

 

Student Success Story: Bonifacio Sanchez Garnica

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Bonifacio Sanchez-Garnica

To Bonifacio Sanchez Garnica, Central Piedmont represents a new beginning.⭐️

The first-generation college student dropped out of college at a four-year institution more than five years ago due to financial reasons. Hurdling that life obstacle was difficult for Bonifacio, but he recovered. Unfortunately, just as he was beginning to find his footing and discover a path forward, the pandemic hit.

At the time, Bonifacio owned and operated a small residential framing company, a business that was significantly impacted by COVID-19, and lost a lot of work as a result of the pandemic. He soon found himself with a lot of time on his hands – time that he used to reflect on his life and what he wanted to do next. 🤔

“I knew I needed a change,” said Bonifacio. “So, after discussing the options with my wife, we decided to move out of our hometown of Wilmington, North Carolina, and make a fresh start in Charlotte.”

The Sanchezs are currently both attending school – she’s enrolled at UNC Charlotte, studying psychology – and Bonifacio’s at Central Piedmont, earning an associate degree in business. The couple hope to one day go into business together, with Bonifacio serving as the financial manager and data analyst for that future company.🤝 

“Being in school has pushed me to try new things, such as clubs or extracurricular activities that I wouldn’t have otherwise tried if I had been on my own,” explains Bonifacio. “At Central Piedmont, I’ve really stepped outside my comfort zone and made it a point to be open to new experiences. The time I spend participating in the college’s Campus Activity Board and Rotoract is some of the most rewarding to me; it’s what I’ve enjoyed most about attending here.”😁

Student Success Story: Fatimata Sylla

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Fatimata SyllaFatimata Sylla is driven by a passion for helping others, not only in her career goals, but also in her daily efforts volunteering in the community. She is studying to graduate with her Associate in Science degree from Central Piedmont in 2023 in order to pursue her goal of being a nurse, and one day a doctor.

“One of my favorite parts of being at Central Piedmont is getting involved in the community,” Fatimata says. “I cannot stress enough how much volunteering has shaped my personality and developed my leadership skills.”

Born in Mali, Fatimata speaks four languages (French, Portuguese, Bambara, and English) and is highly motivated, not only in her schoolwork, but also in making connections throughout Charlotte.

Thankfully, her personal drive has helped her weather the pandemic, which has been riddled with challenges. 

“At first, it was challenging to make the switch to online learning.. As an international student, I had never heard of such a thing,” Fatimata says. “However, Central Piedmont was there to help me every step of the way and provided advice about how to take online classes and be self-disciplined.”

Her advice to prospective Central Piedmont students? 

“You will not go wrong in choosing Central Piedmont to accomplish your educational goals,” she says. “It is an affordable college that has a lot to offer at the individual and professional level. You’ll be able to connect with many students from different backgrounds, volunteer in the community, and at the same time pursue your goals like I am!”